England's star trio struggle to play together - does the manager have a point?
With six wins from six matches, zero goals allowed and World Cup qualification confirmed with matches remaining, Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel can argue he has made the right selection choices.
However, in the lead-up to Thursday's Wembley encounter against Serbia, he initiated discussion when he stated that three of the England's elite footballers - Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane - cannot play in the same team.
"At the moment, if we stick with the system, they cannot play.
"They can but not in the structure, not maintaining equilibrium that we established and not in this formation that comes also with wingers who are like specialists in their positions. We currently utilize with specific numbered positions."
From automatic picks to contested places
England's creative talents have been utilized out wide for England in the past, but the manager's choices indicate that the Barcelona loanee and Arsenal's winger are his primary selections on the wide areas respectively.
So can Bellingham, Foden and Kane play together?
Former Three Lions boss evidently thought it possible.
Bellingham, Foden and Kane were selected for each England's seven matches at the European Championship in Germany, where Southgate's side fell to the Spanish in the final.
In the 16 fixtures the three have featured simultaneously, England have won 10, drawn three and been defeated three times, netting 36 goals and conceding 14.
Strategic view: Versatile Foden offers solutions
Tuchel has played a 4-2-3-1 system that changes shape when England attack.
The Aston Villa player has been the primary attacking midfielder because of his impressive ball progression, strike quality and ability to attack the box when the forward retreats.
Tuchel has spoken about preferring dedicated wide players. The Arsenal and Newcastle stars consistently operate in wide areas and can maintain possession effectively, engage in one-on-one situations, and enter the area to finish.
In midfield behind the attackers, Tuchel employs a double pivot consisting of a holding midfielder and one with more license to support offensive play.
Potential configurations for England's stars
Foden and Bellingham would be competing with Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze for the attacking midfield position, with Kane expected to lead up front.
Foden could play as the central striker, which theoretically could allow both Bellingham and Foden to operate without the captain.
There is a potential solution all three could feature together and Tuchel alluded to it this week.
"With his club, he plays almost like a central or attacking midfielder, so potentially in future we regard him as a number eight," he said.
Foden has been utilized as a flexible midfielder this season.
That has enabled him to operate from deeper areas and could make him an option as the central midfielder, paired with a defensive anchor.
This would then enable Bellingham to operate as the attacking midfielder and Kane as the nine.
Regardless of if Tuchel opts to structure the side like this at the international competition, what appears positive is his preparedness to omit established stars in the pursuit of tactical equilibrium.